T-R PHOTO BY MICHAEL D. DAVIS A large and passionate crowd gathered at the Toledo city council meeting on Monday night as a discussion on the placement of the nativity scene lasted around 40 minutes. The nativity scene had been situated in front of the fire station for over 15 years before a complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) prompted city officials to move it onto private property late last week.

TOLEDO — Monday night’s Toledo city council meeting had a record turnout as everyone in attendance wanted to discuss the controversy over the sudden removal of the local nativity scene. Last week, the city received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a national nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wis., after the FFRF was notified about Toledo’s nativity scene when the founder of Eastern Iowa Atheists drove through town and saw the wooden display on the fire station’s front lawn.

The group objected to the nativity’s location, which has been on public grounds for more than 15 years. The nativity was moved a half block south to private property late last week not just after the letter was received, but after the fire department received some feedback from a few non-Christian Toledo citizens.

Before the floor was opened up to the public, members of the council had the opportunity to comment.

“We are a diverse community. Respect for everyone is our main concern here. Not everybody feels like the person next to him or her. I believe in the separation of church and state, however, I also believe in the freedom of religion and from religion,” Councilwoman Cathy Cook said. “I think respect for diversity is what makes us strong.”

Councilman Joe Boll drew an amen from the collected crowd with his unabashed defense of the nativity’s placement.

“I don’t like people burning flags, I don’t like people burning Bibles, and I don’t like people telling us we can’t have a nativity scene at our fire station,” Boll said.

One of the first from the public to speak was Rep. Dean Fisher, a Republican who resides between Garwin and Montour in rural Tama County and whose district includes Tama-Toledo.

“I have to question the standing of any person or group outside of the city to threaten a lawsuit unless there is a complaint from an actual resident of Toledo,” Fisher said.

He went on to call the letter an “idle threat” before referencing the fact that a Satanic display has been placed inside the Iowa Capitol.

A multitude of other citizens stood up to share their thoughts and feelings on the subject, including Lorna Perkins, who read an excerpt from the book “Hitler’s Cross” by Erwin Lutzer. The reading was on the subject of Hitler’s alterations to Germany’s Christmas traditions.

“You can see some of the same changes taking place in America,” Perkins said.

Some residents voiced concerns that their own personal nativity scenes may be next. One local, Dawn Hoskey, drove up as the nativity at the fire station was being taken down on Friday night and said she knew “something sinister was unfolding.”

“We’re all here because this is a good town. This is a free town. And we, as the majority, should be able to say what it is we want and we want that nativity back at the fire station,” Hoskey said.

The idea of adding items to the display to make the nativity both Christian and secular was thrown around. Becky Faircloth stood up and offered up a display in her children’s possession of a sleigh and reindeer that could go along with the classic manger display if the council so wanted.

“We are not dropping this,” Mayor Brian Sokol said after the public comment time ended. “The city attorney is still reviewing our options; again, we think we do have options so that we can put it back, but in compliance.”

Boll had the last word on the matter with a potential request for the public.

“We might be asking you for one candy cane; we’re not sure,” he said.

City Attorney Michael Marquess said he was working on doing more digging to come up with an official policy addressing the issue.

“Initial research indicates that the legalities of nativity displays are unsettled and very fact specific. The City will continue to investigate and formulate an appropriate policy,” Marquess said.